Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus help over 20 million people live meaningful lives with less through their website, books, podcast, and documentary. The Minimalists have been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe, Forbes, TIME, ABC, CBS, NBC, BBC, CBC, and NPR.

The Pressure We Put on Ourselves

People are more stressed than ever. We have more pressure put on us than any other time in history.

You see it on your TV, the toothpick models and rugged “sexiest men alive” occupying the screen. This is what you’re supposed to look like.

You hear it on your radio, the solipsistic over-indulgence of Hummer-driving rap stars and champagne-guzzling pop stars promulgating irresponsible living. This is how you’re supposed to consume.

You notice it at work, the co-worker gossip about him and her and, god forbid, you. This is how you’re supposed to behave. To have the tallest building in town, you must tear down everyone else’s.

Suffice it to say, the pressure is all around us.

Or is it?

The truth is that nearly all the pressure we feel is completely internal. Sure, this pressure is influenced by external factors, but the that doesn’t mean we have to take the bait. We needn’t succumb to these influences.

You see, the pressure is only there if you allow it to be. Sure, everyone will judge you, but no one actually cares about the details of your life. No one cares if you fit into that size 0 dress or if you drive a fancy sports car or if you have the tallest building in town. Once you realize this, you can give yourself permission to get rid of the pressure. You are already perfect without it.